宝宝 (bǎo bǎo) — baby; darling (term of endearment)

Definition

宝宝 (bǎobao) literally means 'baby' but is widely used as a term of endearment for a loved one (partner, child), sounding cuter and warmer than a plain noun.

noun

babydarling (term of endearment)

Measure word · 个

Examples

宝宝。
Tā de bǎo bǎo hěn kě ài.
Her baby is very cute.
宝宝，。
bǎo bǎo, Kuài guò lái chī fàn.
Baby, come over and eat.
宝宝，。
bǎo bǎo, Wǒ xiǎng nǐ le.
Baby, I miss you.

Origin

Reduplicated word

构词法gòucífǎ

重叠chóngdiéReduplication

A syllable said twice — for affection, for softness, or simply because that is how the word is said.

宝bǎotreasure

宝 treasure repeated expresses affection for a baby or darling.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 寶; 宝 is its simplified writing.

宀宀miánhouse
琡琡chùjade
貝貝bèicowry

The traditional form 寶 shows 宀 (house), 琡 (jade), and 貝 (cowry), drawn together as treasures in a house.

Open 宝 →